US MILITARY TAPS ROCKET LAB'S NEW NEUTRON LAUNCHER FOR ‘POINT TO POINT' CARGO TEST FLIGHT IN 2026

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

Rocket Lab and the US Air Force Research Laboratory have planned a launch and return-to-Earth mission for Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket no earlier than 2026. The flight will test Neutron's reentry capabilities and the rocket's viability for global point-to-point cargo transportation objectives. Rocket Lab plans to debut its partially reusable Neutron later in 2025. The company has been launching its 59-foot-tall Electron rocket since 2018 and has significantly increased its launch cadence over the past few years. Neutron will stand at 141 feet tall with a 23-foot diameter.